Keith Pavlischek, writing at First Things, highlights a portion of an interview with Bob Dylan that you just gotta love:
Flanagan: In [your new song] IF YOU EVER GO TO HOUSTON the character sends messages to three sisters in Dallas; two get off with a friendly greeting but then the other is warned to “Pray the Sinner’s Prayer.” What’s the Sinner’s Prayer?Dylan: That’s the one that begins with “Father forgive me for I have sinned.”
I wish I could have been there to see the look on the interviewer’s face for that deadpan.
Meanwhile, Sean Curnyn of Right Wing Bob fame reviews the troubadour’s new album, Together Through Life, at The New Ledger, finding his songs remarkably consistent over the thirty-plus albums:
For all the sadness, yearning, and dark humor on this album, Dylan, as always, does not present himself as a man without hope. He’s just investing it where he feels it rightfully belongs. In that, as in much else, he’s a model of consistency, and the music that still flows from this tower of American song seems to be striking chords with more listeners than ever before.
It’s a fine album. I’m amazed that this guy can still put out such remarkable songs.
Comments (7)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1628_279/ai_79354004/
Long article about Dylan's song about the Church.
Posted by Ben George | May 8, 2009 9:23 PM
You & Lawrence Auster.
I guess one just had to be somewhere or other, at some time or other, in a certain state of mind, to "get" what's going on with Bob Dylan.
Posted by steve burton | May 8, 2009 10:11 PM
Paul, here's one of my favorite Dylan songs:
http://www.4shared.com/file/95246777/55c4fb0f/Bob_Dylan_-_Knocking_On_Heavens_Door.html
You can listen to it right there on the page, or download to your computer.
Posted by William Luse | May 9, 2009 3:25 AM
Paul (and others) -- Recommending music is treacherous business. And saying (or even implying) something like "You know who sounds like Bob Dylan is...", that's, well, just plain foolish. Hearing a musician described as "the next Bob Dylan"? I'm inclined to avoid such a musician as much as anything, as his style is almost certain to be too self-conscious, too imitative.
Okay, all that said, I have to recommend a folk songwriter named Josh Ritter. Undoubtedly, Dylan is an influence, but more importantly, RItter is as unique, as perspicacious, as poetic as Bob Dylan. At least, I think so.
Is he a believer? I don't think so, no. Some of his songs even react harshly to the existence of God; at least, through the voices of their narrators ("If God¹s up there he's in a cold dark room / The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons / He bent down and made the world in seven days / And ever since he¹s been a'walking away."). But as I think the quotation I just gave you might indicate, he is what I would call haunted by God. For my musical taste, it is enough that a songwriter take God seriously, and that Josh Ritter definitely does.
Below are some videos that might give you a sense of his work. In my mind, his quintessential album thus far is Animal Years (you can listen to it here). If you find it suits you, his latest--The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter--is a more eclectic, but also more lighthearted album.
Girl in the War
Bone of Song
Now that that's done, I have to admit my too-shallow knowledge of Mr. Bob Dylan. So... where, in your opinion, should I start some listening? Talk about an intimidating oeuvre! Modern Times? Something older?
Posted by Chris Floyd | May 9, 2009 3:31 PM
Actually, Steve, I think Auster didn't like this particular Dylan album and thinks Dylan should have retired long before.
Posted by Lydia | May 9, 2009 3:35 PM
Paul (and others) -- Recommending music is treacherous business. And saying (or even implying) something like "You know who sounds like Bob Dylan is...", that's, well, just plain foolish. Hearing a musician described as "the next Bob Dylan"? I'm inclined to avoid such a musician as much as anything, as his style is almost certain to be too self-conscious, too imitative.
Okay, all that said, I have to recommend a folk songwriter named Josh Ritter. Undoubtedly, Dylan is an influence, but more importantly, RItter is as unique, as perspicacious, as poetic as Bob Dylan. At least, I think so.
Is he a believer? I don't think so, no. Not even in Dylan's eccentric manner. Some of Ritter's songs even react harshly to the existence of God--at least, through the voices of their narrators ("If God's up there he's in a cold dark room / The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons / He bent down and made the world in seven days / And ever since he's been a'walking away."). But as the quotation I just gave you might indicate, he is what I would call haunted by God. For my musical taste, it is enough that a songwriter take God and faith seriously, and that Josh Ritter definitely does.
Below are some videos that might give you a sense of his work.
Girl in the War
Bone of Song
In my mind, his quintessential album thus far is Animal Years. (Try listening to "Monster Ballads" from that link.) If you find it suits you, his latest--The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter--is a more eclectic, but also more lighthearted album.
Now that that's done, I have to admit my too-shallow knowledge of Mr. Bob Dylan. So... where, in your opinion, should I start some listening? Talk about an intimidating oeuvre! Modern TImes? Something older?
Posted by Chris Floyd | May 9, 2009 10:50 PM
"It's peculiar and unnerving in a way to see so many young people walking around with cellphones and iPods in their ears and so wrapped up in media and video games. It robs them of their self-identity. It's a shame to see them so tuned out to real life. Of course they are free to do that, as if that's got anything to do with freedom. The cost of liberty is high, and young people should understand that before they start spending their life with all those gadgets."
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/27993339/dylan_on_dylan/5
Posted by Kevin | May 12, 2009 12:02 AM